After wrapping up his six-year career in College Park with a third consecutive bowl win vs. Auburn, former Maryland wide receiver Jeshaun Jones has shifted his attention toward the next level as the Florida native looks to become the latest Terp to be drafted in next month’s 2024 NFL Draft.
Jones ended his career as a third-team All-Big Ten selection after being named a team captain during the 2023 season, leading the team in catches (56), receiving yards (790) and receiving yards per game (60.8) while sitting fifth in the conference in each category. Jones, who sits fifth all-time in career receiving touchdowns (14) and catches (149) and sixth in receiving yards (2,043), he caught up with GCR to review his time as a Terp and preview his NFL journey.
On describing his journey at Maryland
“Overall, I would say, I would have to say it was a great experience. Everything wasn’t always the best and just having to fight through that and learn like everything isn’t always peaches and cream, everything’s not always good. So you just got to fight through those things and I’ve dealt with, you mentioned a couple of things. I’ve dealt with some tough things at Maryland. And I mean, of course I would like to change some things, but like I feel like those situations and circumstances kind of made me who I am today and made me the man and football player I am today, so I’m kind of thankful for the experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
On how the adversity he’s faced prepare him for NFL Draft journey
“I think it helps me a lot, man. I think I’ve been through a lot of things that a lot of guys in my position haven’t been through. And just having that and having been through that and kind of knowing how to handle those things and how to navigate through the adversity and tough times. I feel like it’ll help me a lot.”
On the best thing he learned during his time at Maryland
“This may sound cliche, man, but I would have to say just control what you can control, man. And everything happens for a reason. I mean, you may not understand, you may not like what happens but everything happens or a rhyme or reason and everything will work out exactly how it’s supposed to, man. Myself, I never thought I’d be in school for six years and here I am six years and about to be three degrees in and with the opportunity to play at the next level. Like, I mean, I never would’ve thought I would’ve had three degrees or a shot at three degrees. But here I am today and with doing that and having the opportunity to play the next level, man, I feel like I can’t really lose in this situation.”
On what his three degrees are
“My undergrad is in criminal justice. My first master is in technology entrepreneurship and I’m taking one class right now that I’ll finish up in May and that’ll be in public leadership, safety and administration and that’ll be another masters.”
On whether it’s frustrating to be overlooked during NFL Draft process
“It could be a little frustrating, but like I said, I feel like the things that I’ve dealt with and the situations I’ve been put in in my six years in College Park. I mean, I feel like I feel like I’ve been kind of built for this. I’ve been kind of built for this moment to where whatever I’m ready to roll with whatever comes. I’m ready to take advantage of whatever opportunity I do. So that’s all I really can look forward to is taking advantage of whatever opportunity I do get and put myself in the best situation, man. I mean, it’s definitely tough and like being that I’ve been in a room with NFL guys for probably all five or six of my years here and to see how it all works out, it’s definitely been tough to watch and talk to some of those guys. They’ve kind of all helped me, the ones with the successful stories and the ones with the not so successful stories have helped me navigate through it all and it helped me prepare to be in this moment. You don’t control anything, especially at this next level with the huge business. And there’s not much you can do but put yourself in the best position, put your best foot forward. So, that’s all I’m doing or trying to do. So, that’s all I’m looking forward to doing.”
On what a team is missing about WR Jeshaun Jones
“Man, I’d say a tough, smart, and reliable football player. And I feel like I’m a good guy on and off the field. I’m educated. I haven’t been in any trouble. So I feel like on the field, like I said, smart, tough and reliable. I feel like I can learn any playbook. I can compete with the top dogs at the next level. I feel like I’ve competed with the top dogs in the Big Ten in college football while I’ve been here. I feel like I’m ready for that next step and I can help whatever locker room that I’m put into.”
On who he’s leaned on during the NFL Draft process
“I’ve talked to Rakim [Jarrett], I’ve talked to Dontay [Demus], I’ve talked to [Taulia Tagovailoa] this whole time. I’ve talked to Taivon Jacobs from a while back. I talked to DJ Moore a little bit. I talked to DJ Turner. I’ve talked to quite a few guys that I know that are in these positions, that have been in these positions. And I’ve relied on some guys who played–Brian Cobbs. I’ve actually leaned on him a lot. He’s been in my corner this whole process. I actually talk to him probably like once or twice a week. So it’s been good, man, just to have those people in my corner and know that I can call those guys at any point in time and have a real conversation. I feel like I’ve been able to connect with some good guys. Like I said, I have great stories and not so great stories and they’ve all been there and been open to help me out. I’m blessed and thankful for it to say the least.”
On the Texas game, other moments that stick out in his career
“Man, it’s hard to top that on the field, but I can definitely say like just being able to see the culture change and the team take that turn in the right direction. That was amazing. That was big. I’m not going to lie. That was one of the biggest things as an older guy. I think as a young guy, I probably wouldn’t have appreciated it as much just because I didn’t know as much. Just being able to see that and understand like what it’s taken to get to kind of where we are now with three straight bowl wins…that’s just the beginning I feel like. We’re not going to act like winning bowl games is the best thing in the world, but we were striving for a Big Ten championship. I know Maryland is this year for sure and we’ve always have just been, like I said, I’ve been able to see that curve and the type of guys that come through that place, man. It’s been amazing to see the change and program moving in the right direction.”
On opting in to play vs. Auburn
“Man, to be completely honest, I think when you say that, when you say like other guys don’t make that decision, I think I made my decision based off of what I’ve been through, man. I’ve had two ACLs and I’ve had to miss two damn near whole seasons. Why would I sit out an opportunity when I’m good and good enough to play, healthy enough to play, why would I miss out on that opportunity? I feel like I missed enough time in my time here, I missed enough games in my time here at Maryland. So it was like, why not go out there and finish it off the right way and finish what I started?”
On beating Auburn to end his college career
“That was huge, man. It was amazing to have that opportunity. Nashville and the Music City both took great care of us. It was [an] amazing experience and I would say, I mean, that was a great way to finish my college career off. I wish I could have caught that touchdown in the back. That’d have been a great way to go out and the deep ball later in the game but I’m just blessed, man. I was thankful to be able to go out there and finish my last ride with the team that I started with, man.”
On QB Billy Edwards Jr.
“You have to be around him to really know. I mean, Billy, from the day he got in there, he kind of knew the position he was in and he came in and prepared as he was the number one guy from day one man. He took full advantage of every opportunity he got. I think a lot of guys gained a lot of respect for him when he went out there vs. Michigan and held his own. I mean, we didn’t win that game, but he definitely didn’t come in there and make it worse for us. He came in and kind of picked up right off where Taulia left off. And I think that’s kind of where it all started. And I can say that his preparation is what got it for me and then seeing him go out there and do what he did against Michigan at the big house, like that was amazing to me. Even though we didn’t win, like just for him to come in and be as composed as he was and then being able to navigate throughout the game like he did, I feel like it was amazing, man. And that’s just all a testament to his work ethic and his preparation each and every week.”
On whether Jeshaun is rooting for Billy to win the QB battle
“Yeah, it would definitely be fair to say that. And that’s just because I’ve spent a lot more time with him. I like all the quarterbacks, man. Cam Edge, me and Cam Edge spent a lot of time together. You’re putting me in a bad position here…I honestly can’t wait to hear from the guys because I talk to all of them still. I just can’t wait to hear and see how that quarterback competition goes throughout the spring.”
On the chance to play with Florida native Lamar Jackson in Baltimore
“That would mean the world, man. That would mean a lot [because] being a Florida guy and there’s a couple Florida guys around him on that team. Lamar’s such a great leader. I haven’t heard much bad about him. I love the kind of guy, I love how he plays the game. I love how he how he leads his team and how the guys rally behind him. I think that’s amazing. And that just shows what kind of — when you see that, like when you see a team just rally around the guy like no matter if he’s a quarterback or not. I mean, you kind of have to when he’s a quarterback, but when guys lean on him like and lean towards him and kind of pick up what he does and what he says and kind of the trends he’s on, I feel like that just shows what kind of guy is and what kind of teammate he is. I would love to, man. I would love to go out there and catch the ball from Lamar Jackson.”
On what will it take for Maryland to close the gap in the Big Ten
“My personal opinion, man, I think it’s just consistency day in and day out. It’s just stacking days and not getting too far ahead or don’t worry about the past, man. I feel like it’s just consistency, stacking days, man. That’s the biggest thing I feel like we missed on last year, just kind of losing those games like the Northwestern, the Illinois where we had no business losing those games and we still did. I feel like that’s what we kind of lacked last year was consistency because then you see, we’ll come out there and play the national champion to the fourth quarter and we still had three opportunities in the fourth quarter, late in the fourth quarter to kind of win the game or put ourselves in a position to win the game. So I think just consistency, man. I think if they’re able to build that and create that consistency throughout the team and the program, I feel like that’s kind of all that we’ve missed these last couple years, man. Just that consistency, day in and day out.”
On his mom being his biggest supporter through his journey
“Man, that lady is my number one. That’s my rock. That’s my why. I appreciate her for everything, man. It’s been amazing for her to be right along with me throughout this journey, man. It’s been a long one and it’s been a tough one and she’s been in my corner every day, man. I can call on her at any point in time. She may not have the best answer, but she can go get, she can go find it and figure it out. And that’s why I mean, I feel like it would be amazing to just be able to, because she knows how much it means to me to make it to the next level. And I know that would just make her world to make it to the next level just because she knows how much it means to me and how much I put into this. It would just be amazing to be able to get there and have her right along with me. Hopefully she can add another section to her book and make it single NFL mom, man…I get caught up, man. It’s just kind of, I get emotional talking about it. She’s been there from day one, man, and not a lot of people can say that. And everybody that’s been a part of my journey who’s met me through this journey at Maryland, at South Fort Myers, like they know her. They know she’s always there. They know she’s gonna find a way to be there and be present and as a mom and as a parent, that’s all you can ask for.”
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